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Traditional Owners to fight for Water Rights

View the ABC TV News article (Sunday 13 May 2012) where Traditional Owners affected by the Tindal Limestone Aquifer (Mataranka) Water Allocation Plan speak out. "Indigenous people have a right to participate fully in government water planning which affects their country and livelihoods."  View the joint  NAILSMA / Northern Land Council media release and the video  'Making Our Submission Our Way' which gives background to the issue and voice to Traditional Owner concerns about the Plan.

A local story with national significance.

Senior Australian of the Year 2012

Congratulations to Laurie Baymarrwangga, indigenous community leader from north east Arnhem Land who has won the Senior Australian of the Year 2012 Award.

Laurie Baymarrwangga, aged 95, has worked tirelessly to save and pass on the priceless gifts of her culture – language, songs and customs as well as knowledge of countless generations of intimate coexistence with the sea.

In recent years she initiated the Crocodile Islands Rangers program, with her own savings. Read full article and more about the Crocodile Island Ranger Program here.

Banksia Award for WALFA greenhouse gas abatement partnership

A greenhouse gas abatement partnership from western Arnhem Land was awarded the Caring for Country Indigenous Award at the Banksia Awards. The Banksia Awards, known widely as Australia's 'environmental Oscars', were announced in Sydney on the 28 October 2011.

In accepting the prize on behalf of five Indigenous ranger grups, Dean Yibarbuk, a director of Warddeken Land Manaagement, said, "The use of two toolboxes - one based on Indigenous tradition and the other with roots in science - allowed us to bring wildfire back under control in western and central Arnhem Land."

The project set an annual target of 100,000 tonnes of Co2 abatement but in the five years to 2010 it actually abated 707,000 tonnes - a 140% result against the target!

Read more in the media release, and award submission and the WALFA project.

Water Forum News

 Indigenous Water Forums hosted by NAILSMA and Northern Land Council have provided opportunities for Traditional Owners in the Mataranka and Oolloo Water Allocation Plan areas to talk about water planning and management issues. Click on the links below to read more about each forum:

Mataranka Indigenous Water Planning Forum - 17 - 18 August 2011

Oolloo Indigenous Water Planning Forum - 17 - 18 October 2011 (participants pictured below)

Download the media releases for the Mataranka and Oolloo Indigenous Water Planning Forums here.

$14.7m funding to boost biodiversity

NAILSMA is part of the North Australia Biodiversity Hub that will build on the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) program to undertake critical biodiversity research in north Australia. Read full article

CLCAC 2011 Water Forum

 Over 80 people gathered on Sweers Island, Gulf of Carpentaria, Qld to talk about Indigenous water issues. Click here to find out more.